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STARTING GRADUATE STUDY AT GW: What you can do BEFORE you begin your program
To help new graduate students get started before arriving on campus, we have developed the following easy-to-follow list of suggestions. Although we recommend that you follow the order listed, it is not absolutely necessary unless otherwise noted.
- Review your offer of admission
Your admissions or dean's office will have sent you information concerning
your admit status, including any prerequisites or conditions of admission,
who to contact for academic advising, and any school-specific orientation
activities. Your academic department or program may have also contacted
you about their advising processes and orientation. If you have any
questions regarding your offer of admission or other information provided
by your school or department, please contact them directly.
- Return your reply card and deposit
Please return to reply card indicating your acceptance of admission.
This MUST be done prior to registration and must be
accompanied by any required tuition deposit or enrollment fee.
- Retrieve your GWid
After accepting your offer of admission and paying your deposit, you
may retrieve your GWid online. The GWid will be your primary indentifier
and will be required for access to GW's library databases and services
provided by many University offices.
- Access the GWeb Information System
Go to my.gwu.edu and
select the GWeb Information System link from the top left column of
the page. To login, you will need to enter your GWid and Personal Identification
Number (PIN); by default, this is your date of birth in one of the following
formats: MMDDYY or MMYY99. The system will list the personal information
we have for you, such as billing address and contact information.
NOTE: The GW Portal includes a "My Action items" feature that
serves to make members of the GW community aware of all important business
service messages, including special University procedures for registration,
financial aid, and housing, as well as student account notices of holds
on your record that may prevent you from registering.
- Create a GW e-mail account
After accepting your offer of admission and paying your deposit, you
can establish a GW e-mail account through the Virtual Help Desk's Account
Center. See the Help
Desk for detailed instructions and online assistance.
- View appropriate sections of the University Bulletin and the
Schedule of Classes
Academic policies, course descriptions, degree requirements, fee information,
and financial regulations are provided in the University
Bulletin. Class schedules for the upcoming semester are provided
online at www.gwu.edu/~schedule.
- Contact your academic advisor
Following the instructions provided by your admissions or dean's office,
contact the appropriate faculty member in your academic program to discuss
your course selection for the upcoming semester.
- Register for classes
You may register for classes on the GWeb Information System at my.gwu.edu,
unless your academic program or dean's office has provided you with
other specific instructions for registration. Click
here for a registration overview; for details, consult the Schedule
of Classes.
- Plan for academic computing
There are two academic computing options available to GW students:
Student Technology
Initiative: University-recommended workstations (laptops)
are available at greatly reduced proces, complete with software, security
applications, and customized GW settings.
Open
access labs: Students who establish a G1
Account may use any of five 24-hour, open access computer labs.
Each lab features 25 core applications and public printing services.
- Settle your student account
Once you have registered for classes, a Schedule & Invoice will be mailed
to you specifying your payment due date. Review the materials carefully.
Please note that payment is usually due before the first day of the
semester or summer session, or by the first day of class for courses
offered in a timeline other than the traditional semester or summer
session. Details about billing and payments are available on the
Student Accounts Services website.
- Get your GWorld card
The GWorld card is the official identification card of The George Washington
University. This card is required for access to some University buildings
(e.g., libraries, residence halls) and to obtain University services,
including checking out library materials, requesting a transcript, cashing
checks, and obtaining a parking permit. You can deposit funds to a pre-paid
debit account that allows you to use your GWorld card to make purchases
in select locations on and off campus in place of cash, checks, or credit
cards. To obtain a GWorld card, you must go to the GWorld Card Office
after you are officially registered for classes. Please don't forget
to bring a government-issued picture ID (e.g., a driver's license or
passport). The location, hours of operation, and detailed information
about the GWorld Card is provided at
gworld.gwu.edu.
- Plan to attend the GW Graduate Student Services Fair and other
orientation activities
Each fall, the University holds a Graduate Student Services Fair the
week before classes begin. The Fair provides you with an opportunity
to talk with representatives from GW organizations and offices and pick
up materials on student resources. Students starting graduate studies
in the spring or summer session are encouraged to come to the subsequent
fall Fair. If you have not received an invitation or want to check on
the date and time for the next Fair, please contact us at gradinfo@gwu.edu.
Many schools and departments also offer orientation activities for new
graduate students. If you have not yet received information about these,
please contact your academic department for details about any scheduled
events.
- Plan your housing
Help in finding housing and other useful information about living in
the DC area is provided on the GradLife website, under Housing.
- Take a tour of the campus
Tours of the main GW campus (Foggy Bottom), conducted by current graduate
students, are offered throughout the year on Mondays, Wednesdays and
Fridays, departing at 12:30 pm from the office of Graduate Student Enrollment
Management (Rice Hall 603, 2121 I Street, NW). Tours generally last
for 1 hour. Although reservations are not required, you may register
online.
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